Back of Ballot Highlights Election Day

Listen to find out what was on voter’s minds on election day!

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Democracy in Action) — This year, the back of the ballot caught the eyes of multiple voters at Mundy Branch Library. The possibility of calling for a constitutional convention has been the most talked about issue on the ballot besides the mayoral election.

Helen Baginski, however, used her ballot to fight for the environment by voting to create an Adirondack Forest Preserve land bank.

“We don’t have enough trees. The thing is, it seems like every time a tree gets to be nice and big and so forth, people cut it down,” Baginski said. “We need more trees in order to survive.”

Another issue on the ballot concerns public officials collecting state pensions while in prison for felonies. Voter William Anderson doesn’t blame either party for this corruption, but he’s still upset about it.

“It’s not a party issue. Both the Republican and Democrat parties got caught with their fingers in the cookie jar,” Anderson said. “They’ve been convicted but they’re still eligible to receive quite lucrative pensions… Which I think is an outrage to the voting public. It’s our taxpayers, they stole the money, and they still want us to give them a comfortable pension.”

Anderson also explained why he believes Ben Walsh is the best choice for mayor.

“I think that Ben Walsh is most qualified to bring jobs and new businesses and new development to the city,” Anderson said.

Another issue on the back of the ballot asked voters to decide whether or not to combinie management of the two jails in Onondaga county.

Helen Baginski would not reveal which candidate she voted for, but she was adamant on the importance of voting. She said that voting is necessary if you want to follow happenings around your area. She also said that people who neglect to vote shouldn’t complain about the results of the election.

Polls are open until 9 pm in Onondaga County.